ATHENS — Georgia coach Mark Richt isn’t sure where Josh Harvey-Clemons will end up playing on defense in 2013.

The freshman nickel back/safety has moved to outside linebacker this week as Georgia gears up for Georgia Southern’s triple-option offense.

“It has 100 percent to do with what we’re trying to defend,” Richt said.

After Georgia Tech and its option next week, Harvey-Clemons presumably will be back to the secondary for the Southeastern Conference championship game and the bowl game.

Where does he see himself playing this spring?

“Safety, more than likely,” Harvey-Clemons said.

The 6-foot-5 Lowndes High product weighs 215 pounds and doesn’t see himself at linebacker unless he puts on a lot of weight in the offseason. He’s added about 8 pounds since arriving this summer.

“I’m really looking forward to playing safety, really,” Harvey-Clemons said. “I’ve been learning it, so it would be a lot harder on me to try and learn a new position over, to just start over from scratch again.”

Harvey-Clemons has nine tackles and a pass break-up this season in limited action, but Georgia is losing starting senior safeties Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams after this season.

“It would be hard to say exactly where he will end up right now,” Richt said. “He could end up at linebacker or safety. I don’t know where he’s going to end up.”

As for outside linebacker this week, Harvey-Clemons said he’s taking to it well.

“It’s not really too hard,” Harvey-Clemons said. “It’s just little simple stuff. … You don’t have to think hard. You just play.”

He’s hoping he gets the chance.

“I’m excited to play,” Harvey-Clemons said. “I want to be out there.”

Vasser lost for season to injury

Outside linebacker Chase Vasser’s season got a late start and will have an early ending.

The redshirt junior from Gainesville will undergo left shoulder surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum and is out for the season, according to Georgia.

He’s the third player lost to a season-ending injury after receivers Michael Bennett and Marlon Brown. Another player, end Abry Jones, is out for the rest of the regular season but has a chance to return for the bowl game following ankle surgery.

“Overall, all through camp and at the beginning of the season, it seemed like we were doing really good when it comes to that kind of thing,” Richt said of his team’s injuries.

Vasser hasn’t played since the Kentucky game on Oct. 20, missing the last three games.

He started two games this season. He finishes the season with 19 tackles and four tackles for loss.

Vasser missed the first two games of the season while suspended following a DUI arrest in May in Atlanta.

Vasser is expected to have a full recovery, according to director of sports medicine Ron Courson.

Demand high for SEC championship tickets

Georgia has received more than 35,000 SEC championship ticket requests during the pre-order period from Hartman Fund contributors and faculty, staff and student requests.

The school is allotted 16,000 tickets for the Dec. 1 game in the Georgia Dome, according to ticket manager Tim Cearley.

The game has been sold out the past 16 years. General public tickets for this year’s game are sold out.

Georgia’s ticket order deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. There will be no general public sales.

There were about 600 tickets left for the Georgia Southern game available late afternoon Wednesday.

They became available due to unclaimed or returned student tickets. The tickets are $45 each and available at georgiadogs.com or by calling 706-542-1231.

This and that

Richt said the team did better Wednesday at simulating and defending Georgia Southern’s offense from the scout team. Georgia has practiced in full pads every day this week and will do so again for at least part of today’s practice. “Coach (Todd) Grantham believes we need some more work with full pads on, so we’re going to do that,” Richt said … Offensive guard Chris Burnette (shoulder), running back Richard Samuel (abdominal strain) and receiver Blake Tibbs (ankle) missed practice Wednesday. Burnette could miss his second straight game. … Richt was asked on the SEC teleconference how much consideration a one-loss SEC team should have in the BCS title game compared to unbeaten teams from elsewhere: “I’m not going to make any kind of comment on that because it makes it look like I’m looking down the road, which I really am not,” he said. “We’ve got our hands full with Georgia Southern and, of course, Georgia Tech behind that. That’s where my focus and my comments will stay. Maybe when the time comes we’ll talk about that. Sorry.” …Quarterback Aaron Murray is one of eight finalists for the Wuerffel Trophy, which recognizes community service and academic athletic